legislature

28 Feb, 2017

Want to know your legislator’s voting record? Bill tries to make it easier

By |2017-03-01T04:08:53-06:00February 28, 2017|Categories: Legislature|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Are you interested in knowing your legislator's voting record? State Sen. Lee Harris, D-Memphis, and state Rep. Jason Powell, D-Nashville, have proposed legislation that would make that much easier for the ordinary citizens in Tennessee. State Sen. Lee Harris, D-Memphis On Tuesday, Harris' bill, S.B. 322, passed a key Senate committee. It would require that the state "publish the voting record of each general assembly member on the official website of the Tennessee general assembly following the adjournment of each annual session of the general assembly." "As it stands now, in order to compile a legislator’s voting record, you would have to go to each individual bill to see how [...]

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27 Feb, 2017

Editorial: Bill would make public records access easier

By |2017-02-27T18:18:13-06:00February 27, 2017|Categories: Legislature, requests|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

From the Knoxville News Sentinel Editorial Board, on a bill to make public records access easier: A legislative effort to make it easier for Tennesseans to file public records requests deserves the full-throated support of all who value open government. A bill that would clarify what constitutes a written public records request recently received the approval of a key House panel and is on track to become law during this session. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Courtney Rogers, R-Goodlettsville, would require records custodians that accept requests for documents in writing “to accept a handwritten request submitted in person or by mail, an email request, or a request on an [...]

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15 Feb, 2017

Interested in open government? Bills to watch in 2017 in Tennessee

By |2017-03-17T15:00:31-05:00February 15, 2017|Categories: exemptions, Legislature|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Lawmakers have filed dozens of bill this year that could affect a citizen’s ability to get information about their local and state government.  While it’s still early, here is a list of bills to watch. Economic development records HB 947 / SB 1179 - State Rep. Sam Whitson, R-Franklin / State Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald - Makes confidential county and municipal records related to economic development. Part of this bill would make confidential any county or city economic development contracts, agreements and related records until after a contract is entered into. The other part of the bill allows a county or municipality to keep any documents confidential after a contract [...]

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9 Feb, 2017

Tennessean: GOP caucus decides to have closed-door meetings after all

By |2017-02-09T07:11:21-06:00February 9, 2017|Categories: Legislature, Open Meetings|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Jake Lowary with The Tennessean reported yesterday that House Republicans have decided they will decide major issues on pending bills behind closed doors. (See: GOP caucus to have closed-door meeting to decide positions on issues.) State Rep. Ryan Williams "Caucus positions give us an opportunity to tell people where we believe the vision of the state as House Republicans should be," said House GOP Caucus Chair Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, as reported by The Tennessean. The strategy is a new one. Late last year, Williams told the Capitol Hill press corps that caucus meetings during the legislation session would be presumed open "unless it's a family discussion." The press [...]

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